Feb. 2, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. - On Saturday, Feb. 12, three members of the NC State women's cross country team will travel to Washington state to compete in the US Junior National Cross Country Championships. Freshmen Angelina Blackmon, Christina Fiduccia and Amy Kelly will all compete in the race and vie for a spot on the USA cross country team. Wolfpack runners have landed positions on the USA team a total of 25 times, with current junior Julia Lucas picking up the honor in 2003.

A native of Rock Hill, S.C., Blackmon saw action in five cross country meets this past season, including a 23rd-place finish at the ACC Championships and a 15th-place showing at the NCAA District III Championships. Blackmon also competed at the Great American Cross Country Championships, the NCAA Pre-Nationals and the NCAA Championships.

Fiduccia ran in two meets this past season, taking fifth-place at the North Carolina Collegiate Championships. Hailing from Barrington, Ill., Fiduccia also ran in the Great American Cross Country Championships. Although Fiduccia did see some action during the year, she took a redshirt and did not dress in uniform for the Pack.

Kelly, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., competed in four meets during the cross country season, including a 95th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Kelly also placed strong showings at the Great American Cross Country Championships, the NCAA Pre-Nationals and the ACC Championships.

Held in Vancouver, Wash., Feb. 12-13, the 2005 World Cross Country Team Trials and USA Cross Country Championships features an assortment of the top distance runners from the United States. The top six finishers in the open and junior races will have the opportunity to compete in Saint Galmier, France, at the IAAF World Class Cross Country Championships.